Fighting AIDS with Powerful Photos and Images
Photography, depicting real still-life images, has always played a significant role in moving the hearts and hands of people all around the world. Images are a very powerful medium for photographers to use to share their experiences and to mobilize the people who cannot directly experience such stories for themselves.
“As co-founder and CEO of a business that captures the important events of our time, I am acutely conscious of the fact that our photographers and filmmakers are not only documenting stories, but their work is inspiring change…Imagery has helped tell the story of the fight against AIDS, reducing the stigma associated with the disease, galvanizing individuals, corporations and governments to takeon the battle against the pandemic,” declared Joseph Klein, co-founder and CEO of Getty Images, Inc.
AIDS is a rampant health issue that continues to tear apart families, economies, health-care resources, and the lives of both young and old, despite its long history with the human race. Since its discovery in the early 1980s, AIDS has caused the death of more than 25 million people. Today, an estimated 40 million people are living with the disease, many without access to medical care.
Not only is increased awareness an important goal to strive for, but increased passion and drive to implement changes must also be pushed for with great urgency. Photographs provide a means by which to pursue and achieve this goal. As the adage tells, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” We have all experienced moments where our eyes fell upon an image and we were given a message that no words could have expressed more clearly. Photography can make that “push” we feel from AIDS ads and campaigns become a “shove”, propelling individuals who can do something to do something within their governments and NGOs to alleviate the pain of those affected by AIDS worldwide.
To see more photos of AIDS victims from the Photoshare gallery, click here.